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The Hundredth had a reputation for unusual-
ly heavy losses over several specific missions,
losses that decimated a large percentage of
a particular component squadron, all but empty-
ing the quarters that housed the crews that did
not return from that mission. Understandably,
the reasons for the unusual, decimating statis-
tical fluctuations were investigated, and many of
the conclusions bordered on fantasy and legend.
There was talk of poor morale and discipline,
insufficient training of its original crews, or the
fact that the Luftwaffe just had the Hundredth in
focus. Today, armed with the opportunity to look
at problems from several angles, to put historical
events into context, there is only one conclusion...
the unit was too often in the wrong place at the
wrong time. The Bloody Hundredth was simply
unlucky and bore a lot of suffering and destruc-
tion on their shoulders, which did not spread to
th
e other units of the 8th Air Force back in the day.
The members of the Bloody Hundredth were
similar to those who served in other bomb-
ing units, not exceptional in their feats, skill or
courage. The uniqueness of the unit was given by
a special spirit of mutual reciprocity and deter-
mination, supported by the approach of several
outstanding commanders and exceptional per-
sonalities who were an inspiration to their men
and became legends that set an example for
those that followed. They were the legends of the
Bloody Hundredth, and its ‘D’ in a square mark-
ing, by which they recognized the planes of their
comrades on missions. The legends inspired by
the four-engined B-17s and the roar of their en-
gines, the echoes of which we can still feel today
on the overgrown taxiways of their home, Thorpe
Abbotts Base in East England.
The 100th Bomb Group was established on June
1st, 1942 in Orlando, Florida, but we can consider
the place of its real birth be Boise, Idaho, where
it had its first personnel attached to it. By order
No. 300, 254 men were transferred here. Less
than three weeks later, the unit was officially
The 100th Bomb Group was one of forty similar units in the 8th Air Force. It has not established any measurable absolute
dominance over any other groups during its fighting career. The unit wasn’t the first to come to England, it didn’t drop the most
bombs, it didn’t fly the most missions, it didn’t even have the biggest losses, although that is often said. And yet, it was, and still
is, exceptional in her legacy. After the first months of operation in Europe, it began to be called ‘The Bloody Hundredth’. The unit
you didn’t want to be in as a rookie... Although its members preferred to call themselves the ‘Century Bombers’, with the former,
less flattering moniker catching on and even adopted by many of its airmen.
Jan Zdiarský
The B-17F, named Swastika Sweater, was one of the
aircraft used by the unit during training in the US, but
it did not continue to Europe with the group. Pictured
from left: Maj. William V. Veal (349th BS Commander),
Capt. Donald J. Blazer (350th BS Engineering Officer),
Maj. Gale W. ‘Buck’ Cleven (350th BS Commander), Sgt.
Donald W. Bradley (350th BS Photo Section), Sgt. W.
French (456th Sub Depot) (Gale W. Cleven collection)
HISTORY
Speciál B-17F / The Bloody Hundredth 1943 INFO Eduard
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June 2024